Synopsis
It begins after lunch on Melissa’s phone. Someone she doesn’t know is texting her looking for a drug hook-up. Soon, eight very different high-school kids are getting bizarre texts from numbers they don’t recognize—budding romances, bitter rivalries, even violent threats. What’s going on? And what if it’s not people connecting with other people via their phones … but phones trying to connect with other phones via their people? A digital mystery for the mind and heart of the savvy texter.
Notes
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Director's Notes for Performing Online
Ghosts in the Machine was written to be performed live (like, you know, we used to). However, due to the monologue and tech-nature of the show, it can work well in Zoom or other online formats. If performing it online, just assume everyone is speaking into their phones (video) either to each other or the audience. Feel free to adjust dialogue as needed to accommodate the idea of everyone connecting online instead of in person, including making the final “showdown” at the school take place in the past tense (i.e., before COVID-19), if desired. Have fun! Make some magic!
Read an Excerpt
Related Titles
Details
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Status
In stock
- Type of Show Full-length Play
- Product Code GD8000
- Cast Size 8
- Min. Royalty Rate $90/perf
- Cost $10.95
- Approx. Run Time 70 min
Categories
- Target Audience Middle School | High School | College and Adult
- Performing Group High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre | TYA | Touring Group
- Genre Comedy | Drama
- ISBN(13) 9781619592018
Hints, Tips, and Tricks
- "The show runs really well with a static set. You can do it with an almost bare stage or you can spice it up with a couple of quality set pieces. The trick is to have good projectors to handle the "texting" in the show. If that tech piece is handled well the show runs really smooth."
- Tip by Nathan Weaver, Central Crossing High School, Grove City, Ohio
Media Reviews
“Funny and mysterious.” —OnMilwaukee
“Incredibly funny [and] thought provoking.” —OnMilwaukee
“A multi-tiered look that manages to walk right down the middle of the gulf between texters and texting-haters.” —OnMilwaukee
“Clue meets The Breakfast Club, with a little bit of Horton Hears a Who, for good measure.” —Ozaukee Living Local
“Fast-paced, funny, mystery.” —Ozaukee Living Local
Productions
| Location | City | State | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Valley High School | Huntington | West Virginia | 2/7/2025 | 2/9/2025 |
Downloads
Poster Suggestions
- Each poster includes a text box which allows you to customize it with your production information. Once a poster has been opened, position your mouse over the lower third portion until you see a label with instructions on entering your production information. Use the Text Select Tool to customize your poster.
- You can print the poster in its original format and hand write your information.
- Your local copy shop should be able to create prints from a file saved to disk. They might even be able to increase the size of the poster for you (although some loss of resolution will occur).
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